Lucas Moura has admitted his delight at fellow compatriot Richarlison joining Tottenham, and he expects the striker to add a lot to the squad.
Richarlison has been Spurs’ most expensive signing of the transfer window so far, with reports indicating that the fee could rise to as much as £60m including add-ons (Sky Sports).
The Brazilian showed glimpses of his quality in the two pre-season friendlies against Team K League and Sevilla last week, working tirelessly off the ball and proving a constant threat on it.
Moura hailed the forward’s quality as well as his mentality, and backed him to fit in well at Spurs.
The winger told Football.London about Richarlison: “He’s a very good guy. I met him two years ago on the national team. Quality player, very good guy, he will help us a lot because he has some experience in the Premier League.
“He is strong. His mentality is very good. He’s a great addition for us. He’s a very simple guy, very humble, very funny. It’s always good to have a guy like this in the squad and I’m happy because he’s Brazilian so I have one more Brazilian with me now!
“He’s always ready to play because we see he loves to play football. He’s always happy, always ready to play, a lot of energy. It’s good to have a player like this. He’s very humble.
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“The area he came from is very simple so he’s very proud of what he’s achieved. I’m happy for him.”
Moura described Richarlison as a ‘warrior’ on the pitch, and insisted that having players with the 25-year-old’s attitude can only be good for the club.
He added about the former Everton man: “He’s a kind of player that gives everything on the pitch. He’s a striker who wants to score goals and win the game.
“There are players like this. When they are on the pitch they change their mood. His character is good, like [Cristian] Romero. Players like this are fighters.
“In a squad, you must have different characters, players who are calm, players who are angry, players who are fighters, warriors, like Pierre [Emile Hojbjerg] and Romero.
“This is good for a squad. Richarlison will add something more to our squad on the pitch. Away from the pitch, we are all good guys, friendly and that’s good.”
Richarlison has a checkered history with his new Tottenham teammate Romero, with the pair having been involved in some altercations for both club and country in the past.
When Romero greeted the striker for the first time at Hotspur Way two weeks ago, it was met with cheers from several Tottenham players, including Moura. The former Paris Saint-Germain man admitted that he quite enjoyed the moment.
The 29-year-old said about the interaction between Romero and Richarlison: “That was a funny moment. Everyone was waiting for this moment.
“We know the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina and we know what happened between Richarlison and Romero, it is completely normal in football because on the pitch everyone wants to win and they are warriors, hungry to win.
“Most important is the rivalry stays on the pitch and outside we are friends.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Richarlison is exactly the kind of player Antonio Conte loves, given the Brazilian’s fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude. While opposition fans will be angered by his antics, I fully expect Spurs fans to fall in love with the 25-year-old.
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